Information for people about to turn 18: Check your residence card
Once you have turned 18, you are responsible for ensuring that you have a valid residence permit in Norway and you can decide on your own if you would like to apply for Norwegian citizenship.
Check your residence card to see what kind of residence permit you hold.
If you are a citizen of a country outside the EU/EEA and live in Norway, you must have a residence card.
If you have a permanent residence permit or settlement permit and do not have a residence card, you must order one. If you do not know if you hold a valid residence permit and you do not have a residence card, contact UDI.
If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country, see the information at the bottom of the page.
What to check on your card
- Check the date that the card is valid until (‘gyldig til’).
- Check the table below to see what type of residence permit you hold
| Type of permit | What it means |
|---|---|
|
Midlertidig oppholdstillatelse, utl 42 1 |
You hold a family immigration permit. |
|
Midlertidig oppholdstillatelse, utl 28 1 a |
You hold a residence permit as a refugee. |
|
Midlertidig oppholdstillatelse, utl 28 7 |
You hold a residence permit on |
|
Midlertidig oppholdstillatelse, utf 8-8-1 |
You hold a limited residence permit until you turn 18 years old. |
|
Midlertidig oppholdstillatelse, utl 38 5 |
You hold a limited residence permit on |
|
Permanent oppholdstillatelse, utl 62 1 |
You hold a permanent residence permit. |
|
Familiemedlem |
You hold a residence card for |
What kind of residence permit do you hold?
-
Family immigration permit
- If you wish to continue living in Norway, you must apply for renewal of your family immigration permit. You must pay a fee. You should register your application and book an appointment with the police to submit the application three months before your family immigration permit expires. If you apply after it has expired, you must pay a higher fee. It also means that your stay in Norway may be illegal, which will make it harder for you to be granted a permanent residence permit. When your application for renewal has been granted, you will receive a new residence card.
- If you have held a residence permit in Norway for three years, you may be eligible for applying for a permanent residence permit instead of applying for a renewal.
- If you hold a passport from your home country, you must remember to renew it before it expires. If your passport has expired and you need to travel to an embassy abroad or to your home country to renew it, you can apply for an immigrant's passport for a single journey.
- If you hold a Norwegian immigrant's passport, you must check the validity date and renew it before it expires. You must submit a separate application for renewal of an immigrant's passport.
-
Residence permits for refugees
- If you wish to continue living in Norway, you must apply for renewal of your residence permit. You should book an appointment to submit your application three months before your residence permit expires. If you apply after it expires, it means that your stay in Norway may be illegal, which will make it harder for you to be granted a permanent residence permit. When your application for renewal has been granted, you will receive a new residence card.
- If you have held a residence permit in Norway for three years, you may be eligible for applying for a permanent residence permit instead of applying for a renewal.
- If you have a refugee travel document, you must remember to renew it before it expires. You must submit a separate application for renewal of a refugee travel document.
- You are entitled to work in Norway for as long as you hold a valid residence permit.
-
Residence permits on grounds of strong humanitarian considerations
- If you wish to continue living in Norway, you must apply for renewal of your residence permit. You must pay a fee. You should book an appointment to submit your application three months before your residence permit expires. If you apply after it expires, it means that your stay in Norway may be illegal, which will make it harder for you to be granted a permanent residence permit. When your application for renewal has been granted, you will receive a new residence card.
- If you have held a residence permit in Norway for three years, you may be eligible for applying for a permanent residence permit instead of applying for a renewal.
- If you hold a passport from your home country, you must remember to renew it before it expires. If your passport has expired and you need to travel to an embassy abroad or to your home country to renew it, you can apply for an immigrant's passport for a single journey.
- If you hold a Norwegian immigrant's passport, you must check the validity date and renew it before it expires. You must submit a separate application for renewal of an immigrant's passport.
-
Limited residence permits on grounds of strong humanitarian considerations
- If you wish to continue living in Norway, you must apply for renewal of your residence permit at least one month before it expires. You must pay a fee. If you apply too late, your stay in Norway may be illegal. When your application for renewal has been granted, you will receive a new residence card.
- If the UDI has informed you or your parents that you must obtain identity documents, you must also apply for renewal of your residence permit and submit your identity documents to the police along with your application.
- You cannot apply for a permanent residence permit in Norway as long as you hold a limited residence permit. Neither does the period you hold a limited residence permit count if you apply for a permanent residence permit at a later date.
-
Permanent residence permits
- When you hold a permanent residence permit, you can continue living in Norway for as long as you wish. If you stay outside Norway for more than two years, you can lose your permanent right of residence.
- Your residence card is valid for two years at a time. You must remember to order a new card before the old card expires. If you order the card after the old one has expired, you must pay a fee. You need the card when you travel and can be asked to show it, for example, when applying for work.
- If you hold a passport from your home country, you must remember to renew it before it expires. If your passport has expired and you need to travel to an embassy abroad or to your home country to renew it, you can apply for an immigrant's passport for a single journey.
- If you hold a Norwegian immigrant's passport or a refugee travel document, you must check the validity date and renew it before it expires. You must submit a separate application for renewal of an immigrant's passport or refugee travel document.
- If you have lived in Norway for at least seven years, you can apply for Norwegian citizenship if you wish. You can apply for Norwegian citizenship even if your parents are not applying for Norwegian citizenship.
-
Limited residence permit until you turn 18 years old
- You cannot apply for a new residence permit after you have turned 18 years old.
- Your application for protection (asylum) in Norway has been rejected, but you have been given a permit to stay in Norway until you turn 18 years old.
- You can apply for money and asstistance to retur home when you tur 18 years old.
- You can find important information on our webpages for you who have been granted a permit to stay in Norway until you turn 18 years old.
-
Residence cards for family members of EU/EEA citizens
- Your residence card is normally valid for five years at a time. You must remember to order a new card before the old card expires. If you order the card after the old one has expired, you must pay a fee. You need the card when you travel and can be asked to show it, for example, when applying for work.
- If you have lived in Norway for at least five years, you can apply for permanent right of residence.
- If you have lived in Norway for at least seven years, you can apply for Norwegian citizenship if you wish. You can apply for Norwegian citizenship even if your parents are not applying for Norwegian citizenship.
-
Citizens of an EU/EEA country
- Citizens of EU/EEA countries are not issued cards that show their right of residence in Norway. If you need a confirmation of your registration in the Norwegian Population Register, you can order a residence certificate from the Population Register.
- If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country and have lived in Norway for at least five years, you can apply for permanent right of residence.
- If you have lived in Norway for at least seven years, you can apply for Norwegian citizenship if you wish. You can apply for Norwegian citizenship even if your parents are not applying for Norwegian citizenship.